Actor Victor Ortiz believes he can again become a top welterweight

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Victor Ortiz, shown here during his April 2016 loss to Andre Berto, believes he can again become welterweight champion/Associated Press photo by Jae C. Hong

 

Victor Ortiz has 12 acting credits, according to IMDb, and he claims getting more is no problem. He also wants to fight, and that’s why Sunday he’ll return to the ring after a 14-month layoff to take on Saul Corral in the welterweight main event from Rabobank Theater in Bakersfield (on Fox Sports 1).

This week, from his camp in Ventura, Ortiz at times spoke in bristling tones while discussing the resurrection of a career that has seen him lose four of his past six fights since winning the welterweight world title with a decision over Andre Berto in April 2011.

“I’ve been written off before,” said Ortiz, 30. “People have said I should retire since my first loss. I came back from that loss and became a champion. I don’t care what people have to say about me. I could go act full-time if I wanted, but I truly love this sport.”

One of the reasons why Ortiz has had only six fights in six years is because he was off 19 months after having his jaw broken by Josesito Lopez in a June 2012 fight at Staples Center. Still, Ortiz has not been real busy since losing his title to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2011 via controversial fourth-round knockout.

Ortiz intimated his less-than-flattering five-month reign as champion is another reason why he is continuing his career.

“The hunger is definitely still there inside of me,” he said. “When I became world champion, it was a short-lived experience. I had reached a high pinnacle and lost it in a fashion that I was never satisfied with. I’m blessed to be healthy enough to come back.”

In that loss to Mayweather, Ortiz gave Mayweather one too many hugs after Ortiz was deducted a point for an intentional head-butt, Mayweather knocking out Ortiz with his hands at his sides.

After that loss to Mayweather, Ortiz was stopped by Lopez after the ninth round, then Ortiz was knocked out by Luis Collazo in the second round in January 2014. Ortiz’s next two starts were victories over journeymen in December 2014 and and December 2015, before Ortiz was knocked out by Berto in the fourth round in April 2016.

Yet, Ortiz (31-6-2, 24 KOs) believes he can make another serious run for a major title.

“I still feel like I can be one of the best in the 147-pound division,” Ortiz said. “It’s there for the taking. There are some gifted fighters in there and I respect them, but I believe that I have what it takes to be right up there. I’m a complete fighter.”

Corral, 30, of Mexico, is 25-9 with 16 knockouts. He has a common opponent with Ortiz in Lopez, who defeated Corral via unanimous decision in April.

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Luis Collazo knocks out Victor Ortiz in the second round in Brooklyn

Victor Ortiz of Ventura had not been in the ring since June 2012, when his jaw was broken by Josesito Lopez in the ninth round at Staples Center. His return was not a happy one.

Southpaw Luis Collazo on Thursday night caught Ortiz with a clean right hook near the end of the second round, and knocked out Ortiz officially at 2:59 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Ortiz took a couple of more minor punches on the way down, went to both knees and never came close to rising.

Collazo, 32, of Brooklyn, is a former welterweight champion. He is now 35-5 with 18 knockouts. Ortiz, 27 on Friday, is also a former welterweight champion. He is now 29-5-2 and has lost three consecutive bouts.

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Report: Victor Ortiz to return to ring against Luis Collazo in January in New York

Former welterweight champion Victor Ortiz will return to the ring Jan. 30 against former champion Luis Collazo at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (on Fox Sports 1), according to a report on BoxingScene.com

Ortiz has not fought since having his jaw broken by Josesito Lopez in a ninth-round TKO loss in June 2012 at Staples Center.

Ortiz, of Oxnard, was supposed to come back Dec. 14 against Alfonso Gomez, but Gomez pulled out with an injury.

Ortiz, 26, is 29-4-2 with 22 knockouts. Collazo, of Queens, N.Y., is 32. He has a record of 34-5 with 17 knockouts.

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Robert Guerrero’s manager talks future opponents after loss to Mayweather

Now that criminal gun possession charges against Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero have been dropped, he can begin pondering what the future holds for him following his wide decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 4 in Las Vegas.

According to a story on BoxingScene.com, Guerrero could end up taking on former welterweight champion Victor Ortiz. Like Guerrero, Ortiz is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions.

“If I’m a fan, I think the most interesting fight is with Victor Ortiz – two southpaws, both from the Cali area; they both beat (Andre) Berto,” Guerrero’s co-manager, Luis DeCubas Jr., told BoxingScene.com. “Victor got knocked out by Mayweather (in the fourth round in 2011), Robert went the distance and did a lot better than him.”

Ortiz has not fought since having his jaw broken by Josesito Lopez last June at Staples Center.

DeCubas said another possibility for Guerrero is a rematch with Berto. The two tangled last November at Citizens Business Bank Arena, Guerrero winning a unanimous decision in a brutal bout.

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